Our foster carers are all everyday heroes – ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.
We look after many children and young people who for whatever reason, can’t live with their own birth families.
Satisfying, rewarding and great fun, fostering is where people provide a caring and safe environment in their own home for children and young people, including for those who have additional needs.
Fostering can be undertaken on a full or part-time basis and ranges from day care or a weekend to a few months or even on a permanent basis.
Whatever your age or personal circumstances, most people can become foster carers as long as you have room in your home to look after a child. It doesn’t matter whether you own a house, rent a flat or receive housing benefit. What matters most is that you can help them feel comfortable with their surroundings and give them a sense of their true potential.
You must be able to demonstrate a mature, responsible attitude and have the skills and qualities needed to care for children separated from their own families.
Even if people aren’t in a position to become foster carers right now, there are still plenty of things they can do to help us recruit much needed foster carers.
At Cheshire East Council, we have created a fostering recruitment champion ambassador scheme and whether you are offering your support as an individual or from a company, you will be helping us and making a real, positive difference to so many young lives.
The three different Together for Fostering Champion Ambassador levels
Level 1: Just by talking to people you might know in your friends and family networks, people at work and in your community and letting them know about the www.togetherforfostering.com website, or reposting our social media content.
Level 2: Apply for an information pack of fostering leaflets and posters that you could display at work or in community venues by emailing fostering@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Level 3: By inviting a member of the fostering service to come to talk to you and your workplace or community group about fostering or to help you put on an information event.
If you feel you can help us recruit more foster carers in Cheshire East by becoming a Fostering Recruitment Champion Ambassador, then please contact us by calling 0300 123 3223 or emailing: fostering@cheshireeast.gov.uk